Chapter Six - Weary Helps a Stranger
Weary learned that it is Good Shepherd's Desire for Weary to help people.
Weary, his children, and his companions decided to go North, following the Sea of Trouble’s beach. This would allow them to remain close to villages while keeping their options open for securing a boat and setting sail across the Sea of Trouble.
As they began their march early in the morning, Mercy began a song:
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.
And then that band of adventurers replied in song:
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation.
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
And they all sang:
the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
So on they marched until the sun grew hot, the mosquitoes grew thick, and all their bellies rumbled. Finally, Weary realized that it was unfair to drive his companions hard on the march to try and make for the time Weary had wasted.
"Let's break here." Weary called out. The only reply was a collective sigh of relief. Looking around, none of them could find anything that could serve as food, so Weary took his children, Faith, Goodness, and Knowledge, and they began to scout the surrounding countryside in hopes of finding a friendly farmer or a small village. They found both.
Weary and his children came upon a small village, and it was a farmers' market day! many nearby farmers had brought their produce to the village’s central square and made their carts into makeshift produce booths. The village square was awash in colors from red peppers and purple eggplant, green lettuce, yellow squash, purple turnips, and all manner of cheeses, sausages, bread, pies, and scones.
Everyone seemed in a jolly mood as Weary, Faith, Goodness, and Knowledge slowly moved from booth to booth. Weary knew they could only afford precious little, so he would need to purchase foods that would fill the stomachs of their ever-increasing band.
Suddenly, Weary felt Gentle Breeze. He instantly stopped and listened. Gentle Breeze carried Good Shepherd's words to Weary. "Go to the far end of the row of carts." Good Shepherd said. “Why?” thought Weary. He'd walked around the square several times already, but Faith knew Good Shepherd's will, so he nudged Weary. "Yes, yes, I heard Him, Faith." Weary grumbled, "Let's walk to the end of the row one more time!"
As Weary approached the last booth, he was stirred by Compassion - what was she doing here, he wondered. What he saw was a weather-worn woman. Her cart was nearly bare, not because she had had a profitable day, but because her cart was broken. Most of the floorboard was gone, and there wasn't a tailgate, so very little could be put in the cart before things started rolling out and under. She looked in the same shape as her cart. She looked like she had lost her best friend.
"Hello, ma'am, my name is Weary Christian. Can I help you in some way?" Weary inquired. The woman wouldn't even raise her eyes to contact his. "My name is Charity. Can I sell you this turnip?" she asked, pulling a small, gnarled turnip from her pocket. Weary hated turnips. Someday, he would ask Good Shepherd why He created them. But right now, Weary knew Good Shepherd had sent him to help her.
"Yes! I'd love to buy your turnip. Is there more I can do for you, Charity? You see, Good Shepherd sent me to you to help you. I don't have much money and even fewer provisions, but I am surrounded by Good Shepherd's friends and my children. So, I know Good Shepherd has already prepared help for you." Weary said.
"Well, my life has been hard since my husband passed away. I miss him terribly, but I don't let my grief stop me from trying to do his work and mine to keep our farm going. I couldn't bear to lose him and the farm he loved. But I don't know what you can do to help me. It seems that I must work our farm until it kills me." said Charity.
Weary didn't know what to do. He knew Good Shepherd sent him to help, but what could he possibly do for this poor, grieving widow? Weary looked at Faith, Goodness, and Knowledge. They stared back at him. So, in front of everyone, Weary fell to his knees and cried out to Good Shepherd. "I am here, but what can I do?" In the smallest of voices, Gentle Breeze whispered to him.
Weary said, "Come join us for this night, and tomorrow we will see what Good Shepherd has prepared.” Weary's daughter Goodness took one of Charity’s hands, and Weary's daughter Knowledge took the other. Immediately, Charity began to see through her pain and grief.
Weary had managed to buy some provisions before heading back to camp. When they arrived, all eyes, led by Compassion, turned to Charity and, unrehearsed but in unison, said, "Thank you for joining us! We are honored to meet you."
For the first time in a long time, Charity smiled. Immediately, she felt ashamed for smiling. Compassion suddenly appeared beside her and said, "Now, now, Charity, you are where Good Shepherd wants you to be. Smile or pour out your grief; none here will think ill of you. We love you." At that, Charity sat on the ground and bawled her eyes out. She had shut herself off so much for so long. It felt good to let it all out.
Love, Peace, and Hope encompassed Charity and comforted her until there were no more tears to cry. Charity still felt grief, but she understood that mourning had no shortcuts. She would have to live through her stages of grief, but now she knew that Good Shepherd really was taking care of her. But what could Good Shepherd do, she wondered as she drifted off to sleep.
Tomorrow became today, and Charity was up before anyone else in the camp. She believed in Good Shepherd and was eager to discover what would be His solution to her problem. Before she rose from her pallet upon which she slept, she rolled to her knees, and in the quiet of this new day, she wept before her Good Shepherd; not a sad weeping, but one of love, adoration, and joy.
Finally, the camp began to stir, not without some help from Charity. Weary called out, "Charity, are you ready?" "Yes!" she yelled. "Everyone else ready!" cried out Weary. "Yes!" they all shouted. They all wanted to find out what Good Shepherd had done for Charity. So, they all set off for Charity's farm.
As they drew near her home, they heard a "Hey there!" The voice came from Old Mr. Jenkins. Mister Jenkins lived at the next farm over from Charity. By every possible definition, Mister Jenkins was old.
"Hi Kin,” said Charity. Everyone that lived in that part of the world was a descendant of man; they were all kinfolks. “Hey, Charity, I heard that Good Shepherd promised you help today, so I came to see what it will be.” As Weary Christian's band of adventurers gathered on the sprawling porch of Charity's home, they noticed some farmers from nearby farms were heading up the dusty, gravel road that passed in front of Charity's.
A pot of coffee sat on a weathered, wooden table precariously balanced on Charity's porch by a small stone under one leg. Hot mugs of coffee were shared as more and more farmers gathered on, and then around, that battle-scarred veranda.
More and more coffee was poured as the clutch of farmers grew in number. Finally, with the porch packed to a breaking point, the front steps, and everything in the yard that could serve as a seat was filled, Weary stood up and began to speak.
Tears gathered in Weary's eyes. As he looked in each leathered face, he saw Good Shepherd looking back at him. The miracle was not Charity receiving a large sum of money or a new mule or another husband (that's another story). Instead, the miracle was looking at Weary. These farmers trusted Good Shepherd and cared about one of their own. That's a greater miracle, by far, than what Weary thought would happen.
"Fellow kinsfolk of Good Shepherd, my heart is about to burst as I look across this porch and yard. Look around and see Good Shepherd's miracle. The miracle is in you; it is you. You have been called to help this widow. She's known by each of you. You know she is a diligent, hardworking woman. She is not a gossip. She is generous and a vigilant steward of all that Good Shepherd has placed in her hands. She lives a chaste life."
"Because of her deeds, her love of Good Shepherd, and her situation as a widow, I commend her to your care. Do not take this charge lightly. You are Good Shepherd's miracle for Charity. Don't drift away or become stingy. Provide for her, for she is kin of your kin. Today, we have seen a great miracle. A miracle that shows the love Good Shepherd has for each of us. Now, let's rejoice and celebrate what the Good Shepherd has done for Charity!"
This pleased the crowd, and many “Amens” were shouted. All were thrilled at Good Shepherd’s miracle. Well, all but one. Tom Cain was not happy; he was angry. He’d already had plans for Charity’s farm, important plans. Charity was supposed to become destitute, and TC was supposed to steal the title to Charity’s land. That was the deal he’d made with Greed and Deception.
The husbands, wives, sons and daughters, and farmers all, played games, danced, told ancient tales, and rejoiced late into the evening. As families began to head home, Love came and stood beside Charity. "Now you see, Charity, what Good Shepherd had prepared for you before He made the first star in the heavens. He takes care of His own, and you are one of them."
Next, Faith spoke to Charity and said, "Don't listen to Fear or Doubt. What Good Shepherd has done will remain for the rest of your days, as long as you remain true to Him."
As the embers of the bonfires hissed and popped and died away, Charity walked into her home. It felt good. It felt familiar. It felt like her home again. Weary and his companions began their hike back to their camp with their bellies full and hearts overflowing.